OHIO students connect to the community with local food

Ohio University students celebrated Earth Month with free food and a side of sustainability Wednesday during the "Mackin' on Local Foods" event.

Student residents mingled in Mackinnon Hall's basement to learn about sustainable food principles while indulging in foods from local businesses such as:

Shagbark Seed & Mill Co.

Casa Nueva

Snowville Creamery

Crumbs Bakery

Village Bakery & Cafe

Integration Acres

"My main objective is to simply tie these residents to the community through local food," said senior sustainability council member Jill Carlson, who coordinated the event. "Then making the connection that they too can participate in the local food economy and the community at large through volunteering at Good Earth Farm amongst other activities."

Good Earth Farm was emphasized at the event as they have been Mackinnon Hall's volunteer activity focus for the year. Each residence hall has an activity that relates to the President Obama's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, which aims to build understanding among different communities and contribute to the common good.

"It's an important life skill to have – helping out the environment. It's also important to realize how many local companies are sustainable and to realize there are so many other choices than large U.S. corporations," said senior biology major Eric Horton, who attended the event.

"Mackin' on Local Foods" embraced zero waste through the use of composting, recycling, using biodegradable silverware and even handing out recycled raffle tickets.

"Food is the hook, but I'm also going to be totally repping for recycling and refuse here at OU, as well as composting," said Carlson.

Throughout the month of April, about 90 different workshops, speakers, films and events are taking place in and around Ohio University's Athens campus in an effort to raise awareness about energy – the theme of Earth Month 2012. Hosted by OHIO's Office of Sustainability, Earth Month 2012 comprises both student- and community-led initiatives.

Events are open to the public, and all are free, with the exceptions of the 30-Mile Meal Discovery Day lunch workshop on April 25 and the Tour de Forest on April 28.